Columbus police last week arrested a man accused of trying to steal meat from a local grocery store and fighting one of the store’s employees in the parking lot.
Officers apprehended Reginald Wilkins, 36, of 826 14th St. N., just after 5 p.m. Thursday after receiving a call about a robbery at Sunflower Grocery Store on Military Road. He is charged with felony robbery and several misdemeanors.
City Public Information Officer Joe Dillon said Wilkins allegedly entered the store, stuffed an undisclosed amount of meat down his pants and walked out. A store employee followed Wilkins outside and confronted him. That’s when Dillon said “a scuffle ensued.”
“That’s also when it went from being misdemeanor shoplifting to being a felony charge,” Dillon added.
The store manager called police to the scene and reported one employee received minor injuries during the incident. The manager told police Wilkins had taken off toward Railroad Street, the area where officers later located and arrested the suspect.
Municipal Court Judge Gary Goodwin set his bond at $15,000. He is being held in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.